By Mimi Chiadikobi
Awka, Aug.30,2024 Dr Rose Oluyomi Mbachi,(Choice)a retired Deputy Director of Federal Ministry of Education, has commended the Federal Ministry of Education’s efforts to resurrect and sustain downplayed age limit policy in education system.
Mbachi said that the enforcement exercise is long overdue and appreciates the efforts of Minister for Education, Prof.Tahir Mamman, for bringing to basic the downplayed policy in the system.
She said that it is a core value to support and urged people kicking against it to have a rethink of their actions in an interview with Newsmen in Awka on Friday.
Mbachi said that the gain of upholding the age limit is irresistible as the students needs psychological strength to perform optimally both in character and behavior.
“I am part of education system and understands well the challenges faced by underage students, it is heart tearing.
“These students comes from various types of homes and can be derailed easily when over powered by harsh challenges as they lack desired maturity to fight back negative influence, either out fear or naivety,”she said.
Mbachi confirmed the minister’s take that the age limit is not a matter of new policy it has been in the program but it takes determined actors to be guided by the rules as government changes.
She said that the whole essence is ensuring that the learner spends the required number of years in a particular level of education to enable him act appropriately always without supervision by parents or guardians.
Mbachi said “For instance, Pre- primary school education starts at 3 years and ends at 5 plus.
Primary school education starts at 6 years and ends at 11-12 years
Secondary School education starts at 11 years plus to 17-18 years.
“The emphasis is on going through all the classes not skipping any. For example some children write common Entrance from primary 3 and 4 at the age of 8 definitely they are under aged.
“Some also write Senior School Certificate Examination(SSCE) from SS1 and 2 at 13/ 14 years.Then you have a child of 14 plus ready to write JAMB.
“The mind is not mature enough to cope with the realities of the tertiary environment.They can easily fall victims of cultists and sexual harassment.
“You need a mature mind to function well in our higher institutions.But the big question is, how do we cater for the gifted children who mature earlier than others.?,” she noted.
Mbachi noted that models for class apportionment respecting age appropriately limits are 3years – Pre Nursery,3-4years. – Nursery1,4-5years. – Nursery 2,5-6years. – Nursery3, 6-7years. – Primary1,7-8years. – Primary2,8-9years. – Primary3,9-10years –
Also Primary4,10-11years- Primary5,11-12years- Primary6,12-13Years- JSS1,13-14years- JSS2,14-15years- JSS3,15-16years- SS1,16-17years- SS2,17-18years- SS3.
She said that if a child is consistent with this structure, his leaving Secondary School will tally with the prescribed age to enter the University.Every child has less than 20 years to be a “child” and the rest of his life he become an adult.
“There is no wisdom rushing children into adulthood, age is a factor in the learning process and it helps in maturity.
“I appeal to all citizens to embrace the call to adhere to the minister’s steps to enforce the age limit as it holds much better benefits for home and nation growth and development,”she said.
